Taunton High students shadow City Hall workers

Wednesday

May 2, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 2, 2007 at 2:05 AM

TAUNTON — Taunton High School students and future city leaders were taught civic awareness as they took over the Silver City Tuesday for their annual Good Government Day. From the mayor to the superintendent of schools to the Taunton Public Library to the Department of Public Works commissioner to the city clerk to the police chief to city councilors to school committee to the local papers, up-and-coming leaders were there to learn. There were no grounds left uncovered or unexplored as 45 local high school students shadowed various city workers to give them insight on what it takes to run the city of Taunton on a daily basis

ASHLEY LOPES Staff Writer

Taunton High School students and future city leaders were taught civic awareness as they took over the Silver City Tuesday for their annual Good Government Day. From the mayor to the superintendent of schools to the Taunton Public Library to the Department of Public Works commissioner to the city clerk to the police chief to city councilors to school committee to the local papers, up-and-coming leaders were there to learn.

There were no grounds left uncovered or unexplored as 45 local high school students shadowed various city workers to give them insight on what it takes to run the city of Taunton on a daily basis.

With one-on-one lessons from city workers such as Lt. Daniel McCabe, of the Taunton Police Department, their positions became more than just titles for these students — each job was given meaning.

“Many students have no idea,” said McCabe, who gave his protege a tour of the station and gave him some background on how the patrol division operates. “There are no civic courses to address what many of us do.”

So what is the one most important thing that 18-year-old Clarence Bazile learned from his day in the life of an officer?

“Stay away from doughnuts,” said Bazile kiddingly.

Bazile was amazed to learn how each officer plays an integral role in the department’s operation, and his visit inspired him to pursue a future in one of these roles.

“It was a good experience for me, it really opened my eyes,” said Bazile, who was considering a job in the law enforcement someday. “I want to help people.” For Kristen McGonigle, social studies curriculum coordinator at Taunton High School and organizer of Good Government Day, the purpose of this event was to keep students involved and knowledgeable about their city.

“There are important issues decided that affect their lives,” McGonigle said.At Tuesday’s city council meeting, which nine students attended and represented city councilors, the possible renovation of Taunton High School and Parker Middle School was the hot topic on the agenda.

This was a decision which may not impact current students, but will affect the lives of their brothers and sisters.

“To participate in something like that, to get involved, have an opportunity to give their opinions and hear what other people have to say is important,” McGonigle said.

In order to know where the city is headed, we need to know where we came from. This is the point Mayor and City Historian Charles Crowley tried to make as he delved into Taunton’s past with visiting students.

With mayor-for-the-day Caitlin Farmer by his side looking on, Crowley explained the significance of historic pictures that hung in his office, which included the first automobile made in Taunton and Camp Myles Standish, an army camp in World War II.

The city runs like a well-oiled machine and every cog is important for it to function smoothly. This is one of the messages that Good Government Day tried to get across to students and a point that Crowley stressed.

“Students get insight into what goes on behind the scenes in order for a government to operate,” Crowley said. “Many of these are positions they don’t read about but are necessary and important to the city government.”

The city clerk was one such position that Katie Donaldson knew little about, but respected and gained a better understanding for after meeting City Clerk Rose Marie Blackwell.

“I never realized just how much a city clerk does and how involved the job is,” said 18-year-old Donaldson. “I will go away with a better understanding and appreciation of what they do.”

After Blackwell walked Donaldson through the ins and outs of a municipal council meeting, Donaldson was given a quick review on what she learned.

Blackwell said that Donaldson “passed with flying colors.”

Though it was a quiet Tuesday for this city clerk, Donaldson, who participated in the program for the second year in a row, had quite an eventful day when she shadowed former Mayor Robert G. Nunes last year.

“It was exciting because I was here when the train derailed and I got to check it out,” said Donaldson, who was with the Nunes and witnessed the aftermath first-hand.

Residents flocked to city hall Tuesday to pay their taxes before deadline, making it a busy day for Jayne Ross and her assistant treasurer Ian O’Connell, 17.

“What does the city do with taxes? What does tax payers’ money go toward?”

These are some of the many questions that Ross addressed as she introduced O’Connell to life behind the counter spent buried in papers and consumed by numbers.

“He has seen every inch and thumbnail of what we do in this office,” Ross said. “He was been taken through the process of how we handle city finances. Every dime comes in and goes out here, and our job is to make sure it balances at the end.”

O’Connell, a senior at Taunton High School, did not come into this position blindfolded, however.

He had taken an accounting class in high school so he knew the ropes and the importance of checks and balances, and wasn’t as overwhelmed when he arrived at the office.

Though his time with Ross was a one-time event, this was not the last the city hall has seen of O’Connell.

“I’m interested in the government,” said O’Connell. “I want to run for city council someday.”

alopes@tauntongazette.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.